KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 – ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) President, Major General Khiev Sameth today commended AFF’s 12 Member Associations and its Secretariat for acting decisively and effectively in managing the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the first-ever virtual AFF Congress today, General Sameth commented: “Since the onset of this pandemic, AFF worked closely with our Member Associations to enhance their readiness and capability to withstand disruption from a financial, operational and strategic standpoint. We had among other things developed a Covid-19 manual to assist our members mitigate actual or potential issues in their countries.”

“I want to commend our MAs together with the AFF Secretariat for acting decisively and taking the necessary measures to manage this pandemic. These are unprecedented times, but I am confident that we will weather this storm and prevail,” General Sameth said.

The pandemic severely impacted the region, with MAs rescheduling or cancelling their national leagues and activities.

AFF was also affected as this year’s competitions were cancelled while the prestigious AFF Suzuki Cup was rescheduled to April next year.

“We are confident conditions will improve soon and we can get back to organising competitions and activities again. The recent announcement on the vaccines is great news and provides hope we may see a restart of competitions sooner.”

General Sameth said one of the other things AFF had done was to partner QFA (Qatar Football Association) to organise the two-day workshop entitled Bouncing Back from Covid-19.

This collaboration with QFA is the result of a strategic partnership between AFF and Qatar FA. AFF will be organising similar workshops and programmes for the benefit of the members.

Meanwhile, the AFF President praised the youth teams, especially the six nations that qualified for the AFC U19 and the spectacular AFF Awards ceremony in Hanoi last year.

General Sameth also applauded the secretariat, headed by AFF General Secretary Winston Lee, for the improvements that have significantly enhanced the management and commercial value of AFF.

“We focused on professionalising AFF including our competitions portfolio review, strategy development, commercial drive, productivity improvement, technology enablement, internal governance and resource optimization. AFF will continue to adopt a pragmatic approach and analyse the way our football business is structured and operates to serve our stakeholders including Member Associations better.”

Representatives, including Presidents and General Secretaries, all attended today’s virtual AFF Congress which was conducted by AFF General Secretary Winston Lee. This is the first time in the history of the AFF that the Congress is being staged online.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 – Terminators continue to dominate the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Mixed Team Championship after beating Transformers 8-3 on the second day of the meet for their second consecutive victory.

However, this time round there was a slight change to Terminators tactical play where team captain and national No. 1, Lee Zii Jia was fielded in two matches.

The 22-year-old started the day teaming up with Lai Pei Jing in the Mixed Doubles against youngsters Yap Roy King-Peck Yen Wei where they clearly had little issue to win 15-10, 15-9 to give Terminators their first point of the match.

“We are used to training together, so I am quite familiar with him (Zii Jia) and have no communication issues while on court,” said Pei Jing.

“It all depends on how we lead. We can learn how to win points and matches even with different partners.”

Youngster Leong Jun Hao was quick with the equalizer for Transformers after beating Wyman Goh in straight set 15-11, 15-4 before Chow Mei Kuan-Pearly Tan then put Terminators 2-1 in front after beating Vivian Hoo-Yap Ling 15-13, 15-7 in the Mixed Doubles event.

Transformers would once again equalized for the second time through the Men’s Doubles pair of Chang Yee Jun-Nur Izzuddin who overcame Goh Sze Fei-Low Hang Yee 14-15, 15-12, 11-9.

Women’s Singles Lee Ying Ying then secured the third point for Terminators after winning over K. Letshaana 15-8, 15-13 before Mixed Doubles pair Muhd Haikal Nazri-Low Yeen Yuan extended the lead to 4-2 after beating Wan Muhd Arif Wan Junaidi-Cheng Su Hui in straight set 15-8, 15-9.

S. Kisona narrowed the gap to 3-4 for Transformers after beating Siti Nurshuhaini Azman 15-9, 15-8.

But Terminators would shut down any remnants of a fightback from the Tan Kian Meng led-Transformers when they hauled in the last four points of the match for the overall win.

Lee Shun Yang contributed the fifth point after beating Juston Hoh (15-13, 13-15, 11-5) in the Men’s Singles to be followed by the Women’s Trio of Chow Mei Kuan, Lai Pei Jing and Pearly Tan who won over Peck Yen Wei, Vivian Hoo and Yap Ling in straight set 15-14, 15-7.

Zii Jia once again excelled for the point for Terminators – this time in the Men’s Singles after beating Aidil Sholeh 15-4, 15-6.

The Men’s Trio of Chen Tan Jie, Goh Sze Fei and Low Han Yee then ended the second day competition for Terminators on the right note after winning over Chang Yee Jun, Leong Jun Hao and Nur Izzuddin 15-9, 12-15, 11-5.

“We will be at our best again tomorrow because we have not won (this tournament) yet and where we need to consider the results from the other teams as well,” added Pei Jing afterwards.

Terminators remained at the top of the table with two points and where they will take on Avengers led by Soh Wooi Yik in the final round robin match tomorrow.

In the meantime, Avengers failed to record their second win from two matches played when they fell to a 6-5 loss Dominators.

Goh Jin Wei had given Avengers the first point from the Women’s Singles after beating Soniia Cheah 15-12, 15-9.

“While this tournament can be considered as part of training matches, still we are playing really hard,” said Jin Wei.

“This competition is good as it gives me the opportunity to see how much progress I have made from the training sessions.”

Hoo Pang Ron-Shevon Lai equalized for Dominators after coming back from a first-set defeat to overcome Chia Wei Jie-Toh Ee Wei 10-15,15-6, 11- 7.

The Women’s Doubles then put Dominators ahead 2-1 after the pair of M. Thinaah-Yap Cheng Wen slide past Cheah Yee See-Lee Meng Yean 15-14, 15-7 before Aaron Chia-Ng Eng Cheong gave further point for Dominators to be 3-1 in front after beating Cheam June Wei-Soh Wooi Yik 15-9, 13-15, 8-11.

Lim Chong Kim continued to inject the right team spirit into the competition after winning over Shaqeem Eiman 15-12, 15-9 for the Aaron Chia led-Dominators to comfortably lead 4-1.

Eoon Qi Xuan closed the gap to 2-4 for Avengers after beating Tan Zhing Yi in straight set 15-13, 15-6 to be followed by another point from Beh Chun Meng-Valeree Siow Zi Xuan who overcame Goh Boon Zhe-Cheng Su Yin 15-12, 15-14 to put the score at 3-4.

Ng Tze Yong extended the lead for Dominators to 5-3 after defeating Ter Chun Long 15-9, 15-8 in the Men’s Singles.

But Jacky Kok Jing Hong and the trio of Cheah Yee See, Lee Meng Yean and Toh Ee Wei would turn the heat up at the Malaysian Badminton Academy when they overcame their respective opponents to put the score on level at 5-5.

However, Aaron Chia, Lwi Sheng Hao and Ng Eng Cheong would have the final say when they confirmed the 6-5 victory for Dominators over Avengers after defeating Goh Soon Huat, Soh Wooi Yik and Tee Kai Wun 15-5, 15-11 in the Men’s Trio.

After two days of competition, Dominators and Avengers are on second and third place respectively with one point each.

RESULTS

TERMINATORS – TRANSFORMERS (8-3)

XD1 Lee Zii Jia-Lai Pei Jing vs Yap Roy King-Peck Yen Wei (15-10, 15-9) 1-0

MS1 Wyman Goh – Leong Jun Hao (11-15, 4-15) 0-1

WD Chow Mei Kuan-Pearly Tan vs Vivian Hoo-Yap Ling (15-13, 15-7) 1-0

MD Goh Sze Fei-Low Hang Yee vs Chang Yee Jun-Nur Izzuddin (15-14, 12-15, 9-11) 0-1

WS2 Lee Ying Ying – K. Letshaana (15-8, 15-13) 1-0

XD2 Muhd Haikal Nazri-Low Yeen Yuan vs Wan Muhd Arif Wan Junaidi-Cheng Su Hui (15-8, 15-9) 1-0

WS1 Siti Nurshuhaini Azman – S. Kisona (9-15, 8-15) 0-1

MS3 Lee Shun Yang – Justin Hoh Shou Wei (15-13, 13-15, 11-5) 1-0

S2 Chow Mei Kuan+Lai Pei Jing+Pearly Tan vs Peck Yen Wei+Vivian Hoo+Yap Ling (15-14, 15-7) 1-0

MS2 Lee Zii Jia – Aidil Sholeh (15-4, 15-6) 1-0

S1 Chen Tan Jie+Goh Sze Fei+Low Han Yee vs Chang Yee Jun+Leong Jun Hao+Nur Izzuddin (15-9, 12-15, 11-5) 1-0

AVENGERS – DOMINATORS (5-6)

WS1 Goh Jin Wei – Soniia Cheah (15-12, 15-9) 1-0

XD1 Chia Weijie-Toh Ee Wei vs Hoo Pang Ron-Shevon Lai (15-10, 6-15, 7-11) 0-1

WD Cheah Yee See-Lee Meng Yean vs M. Thinaah-Yap Cheng Wen (14-15, 7-15) 0-1

MD Cheam June Wei-Soh Wooi Yik vs Aaron Chia-Ng Eng Cheong (15-9, 13-15, 8-11) 0-1

MS2 Shaqeem Eiman – Lim Chong King (12-15, 9-15) 0-1

WS2 Eoon Qi Xuan – Tan Zhing Yi (15-13, 15-6) 1-0

XD2 Rayner Beh Chun Meng-Valeree Siow Zi Xuan vs Goh Boon Zhe-Cheng Su Yin (15-12, 15-14) 1-0

MS1 Ter Chun Long – Ng Tze Yong (9-15, 8-15) 0-1

MS3 Jacky Kok Jing Hong – Ong Ken Yon (11-15, 15-7, 11-9) 1-0

S2 Cheah Yee See+LEE Meng Yean+Toh Ee Wei – Shevon Lai+Soniia Cheah+Teoh Mei Xing (15-12, 15-14) 1-0

S1 Goh Soon Huat+Soh Wooi Yik+Tee Kai Wun – Aaron Chia+Lwi Sheng Hao+Ng Eng Cheong (5-15, 11-15) 0-1

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 – Team Terminators and Avengers took the lead on the opening day of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Mixed Team Championship held at  BAM Academy Bukit Kiara today.

Terminators grabbed a 7-4 win over Dominators while Avengers had to pull out all the stops before they were able to score a narrow 6-5 victory over Transformers.

Led by national No. 1 men’s singles Lee Zii Jia, Terminators was almost in full control as they made up for the first match disappointment to wrest control and score their first win of the competition.

Low Hang Yee-Nurfirdaus Azman failed to give the first point to Teminators when they fell to a 7-15, 12-15 loss at the hands of Aaron Chia-Ng Eng Cheong.

But Terminators was quick to grab the equalizer soon after in the women’s doubles when Chow Mei Kuan-Pearly Tan overcame M. Thinaah-Teoh Mei Xing 15-11, 15-12.

Dominators then regained a 2-1 lead after Hoo Pang Roon-Shevon Lai won 15-13, 8-15, 11-5 over Chen Tang Jie-Lai Pei Jing.

Men’s singles Ong Zhen Yi overcame Ong Ken Yon 15-9, 15-13 to draw the game at 2-2.

Soniia Cheah put Dominators ahead 3-2 after winning over Lee Ying Ying in straight set 15-9, 15-10 as mixed doubles pair of Muhd Haikal Nazri-Low Yeen Yuan then drew level once again after defeating Goh Boon Zhe-Cheng Su Yin 15-12, 16-14.

It was Terminators’ turn to take the lead at 4-3 when Lee Shun Yang defeated Lim Chong King 15-12, 15-14 before women’s singles, Siti Nurshuhaini contributed the point for Terminators to surge ahead at 5-3 when she scored a straight set victory over Tan Zhing Yi 15- 14, 15-14.

Zii Jia then calmly contributed Terminators’ sixth point after defeating Ng Tze Yong 15-10, 15-13.

Terminators trio of Goh Soon Huat, Low Han Yee and Wyman Goh – playing in the newly introduced men’s three discipline – could not get past

Aaron Chia, Lwi Sheng Hao and Ng Eng Cheong when they fell to a 13-15, 15-13, 9-11 defeat for Dominators to close the gap at 4-6.

However, the women’s trio of Chow Mei Kuan, Lai Pei Jing and Pearly Tan secured Terminator’s seventh point after beating defeating M. Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing and Yap Cheng Wen 15-11, 15-14.

“The main purpose of this competition was to bring the relationship between the senior players and the youth players closer. So, the spirit and the atmosphere in the competition was quite lively.

“I am confident with my teammates. Whatever match we play, I know that we will give our best. After making some positional changes and having a discussion with the players, we managed to deliver some surprises,” said Zii Jia.

On the other hand, the competition between Avengers and Transformers was quite intense throughout the 11 matches played.

Avengers’ took their first point through captain Soh Wooi Yik whose partnership with Chia Wei Jie saw them getting the better of Chang Yee Jun-Nur Izzuddin 15-13, 13-15, 11-10.

But Lee Meng Yean-Toh Ee Wei missed the opportunity to widen the gap when they fell to Vivian Hoo-Yap Ling 12-15, 15-8 7-11 to put the score at 1-1.

Goh Soon Huat then put Avengers ahead 2-1 after his pairing with Cheah Yee See saw them beating Yap Roy King-Peck Yen Wei in straight set 15-10, 15-8.

Men’s singles Cheam June Wei made it 3-1 for Avengers following his 15-11, 11-15, 11-10 win over Justin Hoh.

S. Kisona then narrow the gap for Transformers at 2-3 after overcoming Myisha Mohd Khairul 15-9, 15-11 before mixed doubles pair Wan Muhd Arif Wan Junaidi-Cheng Su Hui beat Rayner Beh Chun Meng-Valeree Siow Zi Xuan 15-14, 15-12 to tie both teams at three points apiece.

Leong Jun Hao put Transformers in the lead for the first time at 4-3 after winning over Shaqeem Eiman 15-9, 15-11.

However, Eoon Qi Xuan re-ignited the challenge for Avengers when she coasts past Khor Jing Wen 15-13, 15-8 to put the score back on level 4-4.

Jacky Kok Jing Hong put the Avengers back in the lead 5-4 after defeating Aidil Sholeh 15-12, 8-15, 11-7 before the men’s trio of Goh Soon Huat,

Soh Wooi Yik and Tee Kai Woon won over Chang Yee Jee, Man Chong Wei and Nur Izzuddin 15-10, 10-15, 11-7 to put the score at 6-4.

Peck Yen Wei, Vivian Hoo and Yap Ling then stole the last point for Transformers after edging out Cheah Yee See, Goh Jin Wei and Lee Meng Yean 12-15, 15 – 11, 10-11.

But it was too late to deny the victory in favour of Avengers.

“I think this team event is very interesting because there is rarely an opportunity for us and the teenagers to interact together.

“The match was very intense from the start but the atmosphere here was quite lively. We have won the match today and hope to win again tomorrow, “said Wooi Yik.

The BAM Mixed Team Championship is held from 23 to 25 November 2020 at the Malaysian Badminton Academy (ABM), Bukit Kiara.

The four teams are Terminators, Avengers, Transformers and Dominators with each team to be managed by a coaching staff.

Each team consists of 31 senior and junior players.

RESULTS

AVENGERS – TRANSFORMERS (6-5)

MD Chia Weijie/Soh Wooi Yik – Chang Yee Jun/Nur Izzuddin (15-13 13-15 11-10) 1-0 WD Lee Meng Yean/Toh Ee Wei – Vivian Hoo/Yap Ling (12-15, 15-8, 7-11) 0-1 XD1 Goh Soon Huat/Cheah Yee See – Yap Roy King/Peck Yen Wei (15-10, 15-8) 1-0 MS1 Cheam June Wei – Justin Hoh Shou Wei (15-11, 11-15, 11-10) 1-0 WS1 Myisha Mohd Khairul – S. Kisona (9-15, 11-15) 0-1 XD2 Rayner Beh Chun Meng/Valeree Siow Zi Xuan – Wan Muhd Arif Wan Junaidi/Cheng Su Hui (14-15, 12-15) 0-1 MS2 Shaqeem Eiman – Leong Jun Hao (9-15, 11-15) 0-1 WS2 Eoon Qi Xuan – Khor Jing Wen (15-13, 15-8) 1-0 MS3 Jacky Kok Jing Hong – Aidil Sholeh (15-12, 8-15, 11-7) 1-0 3’s (M) – Goh Soon Huat+Soh Wooi Yik+Tee Kai Woon – Chang Yee Jun+Man Wei Chong+Nur Izzuddin (15-11, 10-15, 11-7) 1-0 3’s (W) Cheah Yee See+Goh Jin Wei+Lee Meng Yean – Peck Yen Wei+Vivian Hoo+Yap Ling (15-12, 11-15, 10-11) 0-1

TERMINATORS – DOMINATORS (7-4)

MD Low Hang Yee/Nurfirdaus Azman – Aaron Chia/Ng Eng Cheong (7-15, 12-15) 0-1 WD Chow Mei Kuan/Pearly Tan – M. Thinaah/Teoh Mei Xing (15-11 15-12) 1-0 XD1 Chen Tang Jie/Lai Pei Jing – Hoo Pang Ron/Shevon Lai (13-15, 15-8, 5-11) 0-1 MS1 Ong Zhen Yi – Ong Ken Yon (15-9, 15-13) 1-0 WS1 Lee Ying Ying – Soniia Cheah (9-15, 10-15) 0-1 XD2 Muhd Haikal Nazri/Low Yeen Yuan – Goh Boon Zhe/Cheng Su Yin (15-12, 16-14) 1-0 MS2 Lee Shun Yang – Lim Chong King (15-12, 15-14) 1-0 WS2 Siti Nurshuhaini Azman – Tan Zhing Yi (15-14, 15-14) 1-0 MS3 Lee Zii Jia – Ng Tze Yong (15-10, 15-13) 1-0 3’s (M) – Goh Soon Huat +Low Han Yee+Wyman Goh – Aaron Chia+Lwi Sheng Hao+Ng Eng Cheong (13-15, 15-13, 9-11) 0-1 3’s (W) – Chow Mei Kuan +Lai Pei Jing+Pearly. Tan – M. Thinaah +Teoh Mei Xing+Yap Cheng Wen (15-11, 15-14) 1-0